Grade: B+
Babylon, opening in theaters tomorrow, is like Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood set in the 1920s-30s, instead of 1969. It even has two actors from it, including Brad Pitt, who brings his usual fun irreverence that worked so well and earned him his Oscar for OUATIH. I found Babylon to be quite Tarantinian, with touches of Paul Thomas Anderson – particularly Boogie Nights and Magnolia. It is a sprawling epic that takes you through the life tracks of a handful of people who intertwine, separate, and sometimes re-intertwine – all against a 1920s Hollywood backdrop. I started off planning to rate it fairly badly, then lukewarm, and ultimately ended up really liking it.
I would describe it as a series of chunks, episodes, acts, or whatever you want to call them. I thought 3 or 4 of the sequences were excellent. The others weren’t terrible, but some I merely tolerated while hoping there was another great one right around the corner. If the 1920s was anything like how it’s depicted here, then it sure was a roaring decade. The movie opens with a frivolous, decadent, exclusive party thrown by rich people in the movie industry. It goes strong all night, and features activities that would make Jay Gatsby blush. That’s where we meet Manny Torres, an outsider who lucks into this party at the beginning. He has always wanted to get into the movie business, and it happens for him. He is played in a hopefully star-making turn by 30-year-old actor Diego Calva, as part of a trio of performances that I could see getting a potential Oscar nomination.
According to our lead female character, actress Nellie LaRoy, “you don’t BECOME a star. You either are one or you ain’t.” She is played by Margot Robbie, a star. At the moment, my ideal Best Actress Oscar category is now rounded out with Robbie joining Cate Blanchett, Danielle Deadwyler, and the two Michelles. She is fearless, fun to watch, has boundless commitment, and makes the movie better when she is onscreen. Brad Pitt is a hoot as Jack, a veteran silent film actor who has been around the block several times. He parties all night, gets a couple hours of sleep, and then drinks all day on set – but when it’s time for him to do his takes, he makes it look like a million bucks. Olivia Wilde, Lukas Haas, Tobey Maguire, and Flea are a few recognizable faces who show up in glorified cameos.
You will recognize elements from some of writer/director Damien Chazelle’s previous works, especially La La Land and Whiplash. His frequent collaborator Justin Hurwitz is back to provide the score again. One specific theme keeps showing up throughout the movie, in various arrangements, as a kind of musical Greek chorus. You will be humming and whistling it for at least the rest of the day.
Mr. Rogers once said that anything worthwhile takes a while. At 3 hours and 8 minutes, Babylon takes a while, and the high level of its best parts is not always sustained. But it sticks the landing with a fantastic finish, and ends up being worthwhile.
Grade: B+
Film Reviews by Mark 
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